Xvi ACCOUNT OF THE WRITERS ON THE 



author, which is every where difcoverable. He was an 

 eye-witnefs of all that he relates ; but, from being illite- 

 rate, he was unqualified for the taflc he undertook ; and 

 frequently (hews himfelf forgetful of fa^ts, by having 

 written many years after the conqueft. 



Alfonfo de Mata, and Alfonfo d'Ojeda, both conquer- 

 ors, and writers of commentaries on the conquell of 

 Mexico, which Herrera and Torquemada have made ufe 

 of. Thofe of Ojeda are the fulled and the mod efteem- 

 ed. He was more acquainted with the Indians, being 

 the perfon appointed to attend to the auxiliary troops of 

 the Spaniards. 



The Anonymous Conqueror. This is the name given 

 to the author of a Ihort, but very curious, and efteemed 

 relation which is found in the collection of Ramufio, 

 under the title of The Relation of a Gentleman who at- 

 tended Ferdinand Cortes. I have not been able to con- 

 jecture who this gentleman may have been, as no author 

 makes mention of him ; but, whoever he was, he is can- 

 did, accurate, and curious. Without troubling himfelf 

 with the events of the conqueH:, he relates what he ob- 

 ferved in Mexico concerning the houfes, the fepulchres, 

 the arms, the drelTes, the manner of eating and drinking, 

 &c. of the Mexicans, and defcribes the form of their tem- 

 ples. If his work had not been fo much confined, there 

 would have been no one comparable to it refpe61:ing the 

 antiquities of Mexico. 



Francifco Lopez de Gomara. The hiftory of New 

 Spain, written by this learned Spaniard agreeably to in* 

 formation received from the mouths of the conquerors, 

 and the writings of the fird religious mifiionaries who 

 were employed in the converfion of the 'Mexicans, and 

 printed in SaragolTa in 1 554, is cui'ious and well drawn 



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